This Sunday, September 20th, the BIG Run returns to Stockport for the 4th year, a community event open to all which promises to be a fantastic day out for the whole family. As the run grows in popularity, organisers LIFE Leisure are encouraging more and more people to give it a go, and this year have added a Family Fun Run to get families to take part together.
The BIG Run is sponsored by Orbit Developments and is now a popular event on the calendar. As soon as entries were open keen runner James Pratt from Bramhall was one of the first to sign up, having overcome amazing challenges as a youngster when he was diagnosed with Dyspraxia, a condition which affects his coordination and balance. His parents were told that he wouldn’t ever be able to run or kick a football but, against all odds, James is now very much immersed in the world of running: a team member at Stockport Harriers, he is a competitive athlete, volunteer coach and the voice of commentary at Woodbank Stadium.
James has always been a huge fan of the Big Stockport Run and said:
“I’m really looking forward to running this year, this is such a great event and I’m so excited to be part of it. My advice for anyone who thinks they would like give it a go, want to get fitter or perhaps have similar issues to myself when I started out, is to start small, with short runs and build up. It may well take time, but just keep going, it will be worth it and you will get such as sense of achievement.”
James’ coach at Stockport Harriers, well-known athlete Bashir Hussain is also keen to encourage people of all ages and abilities to get involved and take part in either the 10k or 1k event:
“The dedication and enthusiasm shown by James can be infectious. We still have to guide this enthusiasm to hit our training targets & be well placed to increase his volume of work, while not risking injury. Rhythm is often our focus to achieve our goals and I’m sure we’ll see many great performances over the next year from James.
“Everyone can benefit from exercise and we think Life Leisure’s message in encouraging everyone to take part and to get more people engaging in fitness is an excellent initiative and will improve the wellbeing of the community as a whole.”
Neil Bardsley, Sport Development Manager at Life Leisure also commented on the event saying,
“This is the fourth year for the Big Stockport Run and it just gets bigger and better every year. We want to encourage everyone to take part no matter what their ability; it can be for serious athletes looking for a challenge or a fun run for the whole family, there is a brilliant atmosphere and everybody is welcome.”
Whether you are looking to raise money for your favourite charity, run competitively or perhaps are looking to do something different, sign up today.
The Big 10km Run starts at 10am, advance booking costs just £15 per person, and £13 for UKA affiliated athletes. Team entry is £50 for a team of 5. The Big 1km Run starts at 10.15am and is £5 per entry, with children aged 5 and under receiving free entry when accompanied with an adult.
For more information and details on how to sign up for the Big Stockport Run visit www.lifeleisure.net or call 0161 482 0900.